Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani issued the following statement regarding the naming of the United States Tennis Association's new tennis stadium in Flushing, Queens after the late tennis champion Arthur Ashe.
"In the face of adversity, whether it was Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon in 1975, the horrors of Apartheid in South Africa, or the AIDS virus which took him too soon, Arthur Ashe always displayed the heart of a champion and the courage of his convictions. Arthur Ashe left us a legacy of courage, compassion and hope and this new stadium will forever remind us of the man who contributed so much to his sport and his society.
"When he overcame the boundaries that separated African Americans from the world of tennis, Arthur helped to create the National Junior Tennis League and he focused on providing disadvantaged and inner-city children with the opportunity to play tennis. When he achieved worldwide success and recognition as a great tennis star, Arthur helped fight the battle against Apartheid. And when he fell victim to AIDS, Arthur established a foundation to help others stricken with the deadly disease. He will forever be immortalized as a champion, as a loving father to Camera and husband to Jeanne, as a leader, and as a model of courage and conviction for us all."